Rusizi: 56-year-old arrested for defiling minor lured with Rwf 200

By The Inspirer.

Hakizayezu Félix, 56 years old, from Gatare Village, Nyabintare Cell, Nyakabuye Sector in Rusizi District, is detained at the Nyakabuye RIB station where he is being investigated for defiling a 12-year-old girl after luring her with 200 Rwandan Francs.

According to Imvaho Nshya, The child, whose name has been changed to Munezero Naomi, is in Primary 3 at GS Nyantomvu.

A resident of Nyabintare Village, Iyakaremye Jean d’Amour, told Imvaho Nshya that the incident was discovered when the child told her mother she was going to buy groundnuts. When her mother asked where she got the money, the child replied that Hakizayezu Félix had given it to her after defiling her, promising to give her another Rwf 100.

He said: “This man, who has a wife, six children, and three grandchildren, committed the alleged crime while the girl was at his house playing with other children. Her parents had gone shopping for their son’s wedding.”

He explained that this was not the first time Hakizayezu had defiled the child. On this occasion, he sent away the other children she was playing with to fetch water for him. His wife had gone to harvest rice in the Bugarama marshland. He then told the girl to come back and inform him, lured her into the house, gave her Rwf 200 to have sex with him, and promised her an additional Rwf 100.

The child said this was the second time. The first time, he gave her Rwf 200 and threatened to beat her if she spoke about it. This time, he gave her another Rwf 200 and promised her more.

He added: “When the child revealed this, she was immediately taken to Nyakabuye Health Center for first aid before being referred to the One Stop Center at Mibilizi Hospital. The suspect was immediately arrested.”

The village leader said this is not the first time this man has been suspected of such a crime. Twenty years ago, he was imprisoned for defiling another 12-year-old girl but was later released. At that time, the system for protecting child victims was not as strong as it is today, so the matter was buried. This is now the second child he is being prosecuted for abusing.

Nyakabuye Sector Executive Secretary, Kamali Kimonyo Innocent, told Imvaho Nshya that the suspect is detained at Nyakabuye RIB station.

He said: “Hakizayezu has been arrested and is detained at the Nyakabuye RIB station, under investigation for defiling a 12-year-old girl after luring her with Rwf 200. The child has been taken to Mibilizi Hospital.”

He urged parents to monitor their children’s needs closely and to talk to them openly so that when they cannot provide something, children understand and exercise patience instead of looking for help from people who can harm them.

He said: “This child accepted the money because she didn’t have it at home — not necessarily because the parents lacked it but because they didn’t communicate with her or listen to her needs. That’s how a child ends up being lured with such a small amount that destroys their life, and by the time it is discovered, the damage is done.”

He also urged parents to be alert if they see their children, especially girls, with money and to immediately ask where they got it because it often comes from predators. Any parent who notices something suspicious should report it to local authorities for support if they can’t handle it alone.

He further called on men and young men to stop sexually abusing children because it is a serious crime punishable by heavy sentences under the law. A child must be protected from any sexual abuse.

Article 14 of Law No. 059/2023 of December 4, 2023, which amends Law No. 68/2018 of June 30, 2018, determining offenses and penalties in general, states that when defilement is committed against a child under the age of 14, the person found guilty by the court shall be sentenced to life imprisonment.